U9 Turquoise 24/25 - Hemel Aces Wildcats

GOG U8T 💜🦩💜 The fifth game of 2024, and we were at home to the Hemel Aces. Back to where it all began and our first ever opponents as a team at the beginning of the season. We knew from our first encounter with this team how strong and tough they were, so this was a good test for the girls today.

The first quarter, we started with Alara, Lala, Willow and Ariana. The girls came out flying and got off to a fantastic start. Some sublime footwork and great vision from Willow, who got her head up playing in Lala who put a well placed shot into the back of the net and opened up the scoring. We really forced our attack on the Aces. Lala almost repaid the assist from a corner which found Willow who turned and shot on goal but it was just wide. The favour was soon returned when Lala made a brilliant run down the left with close control made the pass to Willow who then despatched a powerful shot with her left foot in to the back of the net for our second goal. The Aces put together an attack which was quickly recovered by Alara who played a nice pass into Lala who forced a good save from the Aces goalkeeper. Shortly after Willow made a brilliant interception then played the ball to Ariana who's shot was just off target. Lala then went on a good run down the left playing in Ariana but her shot was straight at the keeper. Towards the end the Aces put some good pressure on us from a goal kick and a well taken goal from them really made this match interesting.

The second quarter we put out Alara, Evie, Eden and Olive. The Aces built from there first goal in the last quarter and really started to put it on us with some good attacks. Alara in defence together with Evie and Olive from midfield did really well to dig in and see off their attacks. We then got ourselves a corner which found Evie who was just short of the target. Olive then went on a fantastic run down the right seeing off a couple of Aces players, but the effort went just out of play for a goal kick. There was some really crisp passing between the girls which was really great to see. Evie who won the ball back made a great pass to Eden who was in space to make an effort on goal but the keeper made a good save. Evie who recovered the ball from the goal kick went on a brilliant direct run of her own but again forced a great save from the Aces keeper. Evie and Eden then had another effort each which were just short of the goal. The Aces then went on a promising attack down our right wing, but Olive who showed great determination to get back make a block and clear the ball out of play for a throw-in to the Aces. From the throw the Aces put together some penetrative passes which put them in a good scoring position. But they were denied by a quick reaction save from Lala in goal for this quarter. Alara then saw a lovely run from defence into attack put out for a corner to us. Unfortunately we got hit on the counter and the Aces took their second goal really well. The game was all square with both teams playing some great football in this quarter. Olive then went on a great run playing the ball to Eden who laid the ball off to Alara but the shot was blocked and went out for a goal kick.

The third quarter and it was all to play for. We had Ariana, Lala, Olive and Willow on for this quarter. Both teams were really going for it in this quarter. Some great passing between Olive, Willow and Lala saw us keep good possession of the ball and retain the ball high up the pitch. Olive made a great pass to Willow who then played the ball through two players to Lala, but her shot was intercepted well by the Aces goalkeeper. The girls kept their shape well and soaked up some really promising attacks from the Aces. Olive making a brilliant tackle to recover the ball and disrupt the opposition play. It was still all square at this point and the game could have gone either way. However a brilliant solo run from Ariana from the back of defence, down the left, with a well executed shot from the tightest of angles gave us the lead and our third goal of the game. Shortly after the restart there was some concern as one of the Aces players appeared to pick up a shoulder injury. Play was paused and it was nice to see the girls showing some real concern and also consoling the Aces player, who we were glad to see was alright, but was replaced as a precaution. The girls then went on the attack down the left which seemed to be the favoured side this quarter. The Aces did really well to block shots from both Lala, followed by Ariana, but the ball fell to Willow and with some quick feet and and a well placed shot gave us our fourth of the game.

Fourth quarter we played with Alara, Evie, Eden and Lala. We started off with some great recovering play by Eden who then took a shot on goal from distance just shy of the target. Shortly after the goal kick, Lala who did brilliantly to apply pressure on the defender won the ball back, and placed a bullet of a right footed shot well beyond the keeper to give us our fifth goal of the match. Some good build up play from Alara and Evie, put Lala through on goal again, but her effort was straight at the keeper this time. The Aces put together some good challenges and attacks of their own and were very unfortunate not to find the back of the net. Eden then pick up the ball on the right, working the ball towards the byline and putting a great cross into the box, which is something we've been working on in training. Nobody was able to get on the end of the cross. Evie then replicated the cross from the right into the box which fell to Eden who poked it home for our sixth goal of the game. Shortly after Evie came so close to getting a goal of her own. Substitutions were made with Lala and Alara coming off and being replaced with Olive and Ariana for the last half of the quarter. Some promising attacking play from the Aces saw a clearance made by our keeper Willow, which Evie did amazingly well to chase down, she then made a great effort on goal but the Aces goalkeeper pulled off an equally great save. Shortly after having soaked up attack after attack, the Aces deservedly got their third of the game. After the restart Ariana put a ball up to Eden but the effort was blocked by some resolute defending from the Aces. Olive then picked up the ball from our own half driving at the opponents, showing great skill and determination. She made it towards goal beating the defender and taking a shot, but the effort was saved by the keeper.

Today's game was a really tough one with both teams putting on a great display. The referee did a great job officiating very fairly throughout the match. The girls worked so hard for this win and we were all so pleased with their efforts. Well played Alara, Ariana, Eden, Evie, Lala, Olive and Willow. 👏🏾

Lala ⚽⚽

Willow ⚽⚽

Ariana ⚽

Eden ⚽

Assists: Lala, Willow, Evie🤝

Captain: Olive ©️

POTM 🏆 Olive

Opposition POTM 🏆Lala